World and Beauty

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Hubei fishery was a central part of a Chinese sturgeon breeding project Construction at a Chinese eco tourism zone is believed to have caused the death of 6,000 critically endangered Chinese sturgeon. A bridge in Hubei province was being built close to a farm on the Yangtze river which was breeding the long-living fish. A Chinese news site said the deaths were "directly linked to the shocks, noises and changes of water sources". All work has been halted while investigations are carried out. The Chinese sturgeon species dates back more than 140 million years. Individual fish can grow to up to 5m (16ft) in length and can live for up to 60 years, but will only spawn a few times during their life. Image copyright Getty Images The species is on the brink of extinction in th...

While National Parks blanket thousands of acres,   of Rwanda, if you live in a bustling city, it’s easy to forget they’re even there. But Rwanda National Parks—which span 4 provinces—are full of natural wonders just waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a nature-lover, adventurer, or a city-dweller dreaming of seeing a bit of green, here are 15 reasons to visit the National Parks this summer. 1.  SOME NATIONAL PARKS ARE AFFORDABLE The perfect vacation destination for travelers on a budget, National Park entrance fees vary, but even the most iconic destinations will only set you back a few bucks. 2.  CONVENIENCE. Due to the fact that the country is small, there’s a good chance you won’t have to travel far to find a National Park to explore. 3. YOU’LL DISCOVER NATURAL WONDERS. The wonders on display in Rwanda parks go far beyond a few bushes and trees. There are volcanoes, mysterious caves and mountains. No matter which park you choose, t...

A  century ago, there were no guidelines for creating a national park, because nothing like them existed anywhere in the world. It was generally agreed that the pristine nature of the United States should be preserved for posterity, as well as for conservation reasons – but how?  Yellowstone was the first national park ever to exist, designated in 1872. Its status sparked an idea that spread across the country and then across the world. National parks were spaces that human kind deemed precious and worth protecting. Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Wind Cave and Mesa Verde all gained status too, until eventually, in 1916, the National Parks System was created – one entity charged with overseeing all aspects of these wildernesses .                                                                      ...

Gorillas  make their homes in and amongst the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains in the Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. Trek to see them and you’ll be introduced by your expert trackers and guides to one of the fully-habituated families of mountain gorillas and you can stay with them for an awe-inspiring hour, often crouching just a few feet away, whilst the gorillas go about their daily lives. Hikes in the mountains can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours + depending on the family allocated to your group and their location. The journey back can take just as long, but you are often carried along by the euphoria you feel at seeing the gorillas! There were around 600 mountain gorillas left in the wild in 2008; but numbers have now risen to over 1,000 after intensive conservation efforts. These include anti-poaching patrols and vets trained to give care to gorillas in the wild.             ...